Kirkland 離西雅圖開車約十五分鐘，是 Costco 好事多 的家鄉。好事多也用 Kirkland 城市名作他們出廠的品牌。由於這裡環境優美，景色有山有湖，因此房地產界蓋的都是層層疊起的公寓。這十一月份時婆婆來看我們是拍的。畫面一開始可以看到有一對年輕人來此拍攝影外景。那天溫度不是太高，但是已經有人坐在板凳上曬著太陽打盹了。湖水很清澈，在春秋交際時，遷徙的雁子都會在此棲息然後再度上路。
Showing posts with label 體驗生活美國西岸. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 體驗生活美國西岸. Show all posts
到西雅圖了解環境
當初為了遷徙到西雅圖，老公新上任的公司在搬去前邀請我們到當地了解環境，好讓我們能妥善準備我們的遷移，並有心理準備。4 天的行程，來回飛的第一天和第四天就花在路上了，第二天是公司請的經紀人帶我們了解的西雅圖的地域。第三天是老公的表姊的經紀人帶我們去看了6 個房子，了解住屋格局和社區。
可能長程旅行加上時差的關係，我們睡的早起得也晚。但還是利用了這短短時間，幾乎可以說已經對大西雅圖摸得徹底了。我們很喜歡 KIRKLAND，因為它面湖 而且街道離水邊很近。BELLEVUE 是第二選擇，因為它有點太安靜。基本上兩個地方都很好，只是看有沒有適合我們的房子了。
西雅圖就像舊金山的縮小本。有山丘的起伏，只是角度沒有舊金山那麼誇張。同樣沒有大範圍的公共交通工具，只是通勤距離沒有像舊金山灣區那麼遠。有乾淨的中國城，只是沒有像舊金山灣區有那麼多的泡沫紅茶店。西雅圖的郵輪和遊船多的不得了，好喜歡透過市區街道看船在遠遠的海灣上通過。
我最驚訝的是通常很多人都以為西雅圖區只會下雨，但是天氣好的日子真的很多。西雅圖的人也非常環保，道路很乾淨，乾淨到水一點汙染都沒有。他們也很愛運動，不管那一季節，都能看得到如照片中划獨木舟的運動員或蓮花旁划小船的對對情侶呢！
可能長程旅行加上時差的關係，我們睡的早起得也晚。但還是利用了這短短時間，幾乎可以說已經對大西雅圖摸得徹底了。我們很喜歡 KIRKLAND，因為它面湖 而且街道離水邊很近。BELLEVUE 是第二選擇，因為它有點太安靜。基本上兩個地方都很好，只是看有沒有適合我們的房子了。
西雅圖就像舊金山的縮小本。有山丘的起伏，只是角度沒有舊金山那麼誇張。同樣沒有大範圍的公共交通工具，只是通勤距離沒有像舊金山灣區那麼遠。有乾淨的中國城，只是沒有像舊金山灣區有那麼多的泡沫紅茶店。西雅圖的郵輪和遊船多的不得了，好喜歡透過市區街道看船在遠遠的海灣上通過。
我最驚訝的是通常很多人都以為西雅圖區只會下雨，但是天氣好的日子真的很多。西雅圖的人也非常環保，道路很乾淨，乾淨到水一點汙染都沒有。他們也很愛運動，不管那一季節，都能看得到如照片中划獨木舟的運動員或蓮花旁划小船的對對情侶呢！
Snow fall in Greater Seattle during the last two weeks of year 2008. 西雅圖２００８的大雪
真的不敢相信在這麼暖的低地西雅圖，人行道的針葉樹上可以堆這麼多雪。聽說上次西雅圖下這麼大的雪，並且隔天沒融，是在二十年前。整個城市，雪白一片，像極了原野之地。市郊的路上幾乎看不到一台房車，反而都是卡車或是四輪驅動的休旅車。西雅圖有兩個原因而不能除去這麼多的雪。一是因為之前提到的－西雅圖正常是不會下如此大的雪，而且下的雪，隔天也融了，所以沒有有效的剷雪機制（比如鏟雪車數量少）。二是，西雅圖以環保出名。由於融雪的鹽會流到河裡，破壞生態， 所以連鹽也不灑。故此，到處都是乾淨的厚厚白雪。沒有人看得出哪裡是人行道的界線，哪裡是路，除非踩滑了才急忙回到人行道上。
西雅圖跟舊金山一樣是丘陵地形。所以路因為沒除雪，之後結成了冰，成了危險地域。很多沒有四輪驅動後車鍊的人，根本連車庫都出不去。有些人就算開出去了，還會拋錨在路邊，只得棄車，另找幫忙。能在家上班的都留在家，不能出門，並且公司也不開門的，政府還補貼當天的薪水。感覺大家都在為這場雪奮鬥著呢。
儘管有著許多不便，一片銀白的風景，真的好美好美! 以前住在紐約時的雪，不論是大小巷道，隔天早上就立刻被剷了或化了，路邊總是滿佈泥濘和水窪。住在舊金山時，若要看雪，就要上山，但還不一定親眼看到落雪的美景。
總歸，這樣的一場大雪帶給了我們美麗的白色耶誕。上次西雅圖有白色耶誕還是在１８８６年，一世紀前呢！以前在紐約時，最喜歡晚上下這樣大大的雪，然後跟同學在外面聊天，讓柔柔的雪片飄透過昏黃的路燈，落在臉上，好不愜意。這樣的感覺依然記憶猶新， 而在西雅圖竟能意外的享受到，真開心！不過大家也還是很慶幸雪終於停了，寧願對付已經習慣的著名的陰天。
I couldn't believe there was so much snow piled up on the everygreens in the low land Seattle. People say it was 20 years ago when they saw snow here that didn't melt in one day. It felt like like the entire city was a countryside because everywhere was snow white. There is nearly no sedan we could see in the suburban streets, but trucks and four-wheel-drives. There were two reasons why Seattle couldn't remove such of big snow. One was clear and as mentioned - normally there is not enough snow so the resources (such as the snow removal trucks) is limited to clear the entire city. The other reason is Seattle is famous for its Enviromental Protection. In order to prevent the salt (for melting the snow) went into the rivers, resulting in damaging the biologic system, salt wasn't used. Snow is everywhere and no one could really tell where the streets or sidewalks were until stumbled.
Since Greater Seattle is also famous for its hilly terrain, the icy roads became hazard zones. There are many people without a four-wheel-drive, or car has no traction control, or has no wheel chains. They had hard time getting out of their homes. Many also had their car stalled half way on the route. They just abandoned the car and get other help. Most of the people stay at home. For those who can not work remotely from home, the City actually refund people if their office were not open that day. It felt like everyone is doing their best to survive the snow.
Despite all the inconvinence, the scenery was absolutely beautiful. In New York City where we lived for quite a while, the entire streets, including those in the suburban areas, snow would be purposely melted with salt right away so the sidewalks and streets are clear but they instantly become mushy and muddy. In San Francisco Bay Area, where we alos lived, the only time to see the snow would be when we went up to the Sierra Mountains ski resorts, but not necessarily we could witness the snow falls.
In all, this is the first White Christmas with more than 1 foot of snow since year 1886, more than a century ago. It is absolutely a memorable season. I can still recall when I was in College in New York City, my friends and I would sit under the street lights, chat while the snow danced through the gloomy yellow light and finally fell on our faces. It was relaxing and a happy memory. It was a nice surprise to enjoy it again, and this time, in Seattle. Although it was beautiful, we are all glad that it is finally over. Two weeks are enough for most of the people, and all rather have the overcast since both the government and the people can cope with that better.
西雅圖跟舊金山一樣是丘陵地形。所以路因為沒除雪，之後結成了冰，成了危險地域。很多沒有四輪驅動後車鍊的人，根本連車庫都出不去。有些人就算開出去了，還會拋錨在路邊，只得棄車，另找幫忙。能在家上班的都留在家，不能出門，並且公司也不開門的，政府還補貼當天的薪水。感覺大家都在為這場雪奮鬥著呢。
儘管有著許多不便，一片銀白的風景，真的好美好美! 以前住在紐約時的雪，不論是大小巷道，隔天早上就立刻被剷了或化了，路邊總是滿佈泥濘和水窪。住在舊金山時，若要看雪，就要上山，但還不一定親眼看到落雪的美景。
總歸，這樣的一場大雪帶給了我們美麗的白色耶誕。上次西雅圖有白色耶誕還是在１８８６年，一世紀前呢！以前在紐約時，最喜歡晚上下這樣大大的雪，然後跟同學在外面聊天，讓柔柔的雪片飄透過昏黃的路燈，落在臉上，好不愜意。這樣的感覺依然記憶猶新， 而在西雅圖竟能意外的享受到，真開心！不過大家也還是很慶幸雪終於停了，寧願對付已經習慣的著名的陰天。
I couldn't believe there was so much snow piled up on the everygreens in the low land Seattle. People say it was 20 years ago when they saw snow here that didn't melt in one day. It felt like like the entire city was a countryside because everywhere was snow white. There is nearly no sedan we could see in the suburban streets, but trucks and four-wheel-drives. There were two reasons why Seattle couldn't remove such of big snow. One was clear and as mentioned - normally there is not enough snow so the resources (such as the snow removal trucks) is limited to clear the entire city. The other reason is Seattle is famous for its Enviromental Protection. In order to prevent the salt (for melting the snow) went into the rivers, resulting in damaging the biologic system, salt wasn't used. Snow is everywhere and no one could really tell where the streets or sidewalks were until stumbled.
Since Greater Seattle is also famous for its hilly terrain, the icy roads became hazard zones. There are many people without a four-wheel-drive, or car has no traction control, or has no wheel chains. They had hard time getting out of their homes. Many also had their car stalled half way on the route. They just abandoned the car and get other help. Most of the people stay at home. For those who can not work remotely from home, the City actually refund people if their office were not open that day. It felt like everyone is doing their best to survive the snow.
Despite all the inconvinence, the scenery was absolutely beautiful. In New York City where we lived for quite a while, the entire streets, including those in the suburban areas, snow would be purposely melted with salt right away so the sidewalks and streets are clear but they instantly become mushy and muddy. In San Francisco Bay Area, where we alos lived, the only time to see the snow would be when we went up to the Sierra Mountains ski resorts, but not necessarily we could witness the snow falls.
In all, this is the first White Christmas with more than 1 foot of snow since year 1886, more than a century ago. It is absolutely a memorable season. I can still recall when I was in College in New York City, my friends and I would sit under the street lights, chat while the snow danced through the gloomy yellow light and finally fell on our faces. It was relaxing and a happy memory. It was a nice surprise to enjoy it again, and this time, in Seattle. Although it was beautiful, we are all glad that it is finally over. Two weeks are enough for most of the people, and all rather have the overcast since both the government and the people can cope with that better.
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